Mottoes

Heraldry of the World
The main resource for civic heraldry since 1996 with 294,666 images

MOTTOES USED IN CIVIC HERALDRY

Mottoes are very common in the British-style heraldry (UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand), and much less common in other countries. Therefore the large majority of the mottoes listed here are from towns and councils in the British heraldic region.

As this page got too large, mottoes in the following languages are separated :

Mottoes in English
Mottoes in Latin

If you see a motto on the site that is not yet listed here or have any other addition, please mail me !

Only true mottoes are listed here, no town names in banners around the arms.

The mottoes are listed by language and sorted by first letter. For clarity no capital letters are used, except the first letter as well as personal or town names. A translation in English is provided when available.

Mottoes in African languages

Mottoes with any African language as the original language. For Afrikaans, see Dutch, for Malagasy, see below.

Motto	Language	Translation in English	Used by
! gai uiba gisenba	?		Nama Khoi
!ke e:/xarra//ke	Khoisan		South Africa
sa k//?a: !a1si ?u1si	Auni	We go good life	Northern Cape
Elimu tiba utafiti	Swahili	Medicine education research	Muhimbili University
Harambee	Swahili	Synergy	Kenya
Imbumba yamanyama	Xhosa	Unity is strength	Transkei
Inqubekela phambili ngobuqotho	Zulu	Service delivery with integrity	Zululand
Kathleho ka kopano	?		Free State
Khotso pula nala	Sotho	Peace, rain, prosperity	Lesotho
Kutiina mukama niyo nsibuko y’amagezi	Nyoro	For God and my country	Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara
Luyemi Hamoho	Lozi		East Caprivi
Masisukume sakhe	Zulu	Let us rise and built	KwaZulu-Natal
Naboisho ang, engolon ang	Maasai (?)	Our unity, our strength	Kajiado county
Natulenge juu	?	?	Starehe Boys' Centre and School
'Nete ke thebe	sotho	?	National University of Lesotho
Pamberi nekushandira pamwe	Shona	Marching forward in co-operation	Chitungwiza
Pamberi nekushandira vanhu	Shona	Forward with service to the people	Harare
Popa popa e a popela	Tswana	He who builds, builds for himself	Tswanaland
Pula	Setswana	Rain	Botswana
Si ye pambili	Sindebele	Let us go forward	Bulawayo
Siyakunqandwa ziinkwenkwezi	Xhosa	We will be stopped by the stars	Ciskei
Sonqoba simunye	Zulu	We will overcome (or triumph) together; we are one.	KwaZulu
Syinqaba	Swati	We are a fortress	Swaziland
Thuto ke thebe	Setswana		University of Botswana
Tunga nombili	Oshiwambo		Owamboland
Ubumwe – umurimo – gukunda ighihugu	Kinyarwanda	Unity, work, patriotism	Rwanda
Yinkhaba	Swati		Manzini

Mottoes in Baltic languages

Mottoes with any Baltic language as the original language.

Motto	Language	Translation in English	Used by
Tēvu zemes mīlestību / Mēs ar darbiem rādīsim	Latvian		Valmiera gymnasium

Mottoes in Celtic languages

Mottoes with Gaelic (Irish), Breton or Cornish as the original language. For Welsh, see below.

Motto	Translation in English	Language	Used by
A lore burne	To the lower burn	Scottish	Dumfries
Ag Seo Ár gCúram	This we hold in trust	Irish	South Dublin
Agm baile nach teid air agaidh, theid e air ais	He who does not progress retrogresses	Scottish Gaelic	Lismore (NSW)
Beart do réir ár mbriathar	Action according to our word	Irish	Dublin (county)
Cairdeas trí Pháirtíocht		Irish	Mountmellick
Criss fírinne immib		Irish	Saint Killian's Community School
Cuim air adhart comhla	Moving forward together	Scottish	East Dunbartonshire
Daingean agus dílis		Irish	Longford (county)
Dilis d'ar noidhreacht	True to our heritage	Irish	Clare (county)
Fáilte agus féile		Irish	Castleblayney
Feor magh eanagh		Irish	Fermanagh (county)
Flúirse, féile, fáilte		Irish	Granard
Flúirse talaimh is mara	Abundance of land and sea	Irish	Fingal
Foghlaim is fírinne		Irish	Cashel Community School
Gniomhach idir carraig is cruacha	Active between rock and mountain peaks	Irish	Greystones
I báirt leis an bpobal	Together with the people	Irish	Laois (county)
Is fearr comhairle na comhrac		Irish	Carrickmacross
Kaër é mem bro		Breton	Locmariaquer
Kensa ha dewetha	First and last	Cornish	Penwith
Léim ar aghaid		Irish	Leixlip
Mar is toil le dia		Irish	Holy Cross Abbey, Ireland
Meanma agus misneach		Irish	Kildare (county)
Ó Chuan go Sliabh	From harbor to mountain	Irish	Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
Parthas Éireann		Irish	Buncrana
Rísam uile		Irish	Cork Institute of Technology
Ro an mor	Gift from the sea	Cornish	Newquay
Ro an mor hag an tyr	From the sea and from the land	Cornish	Restormel
Seasaigí go buan	Let us stand for ever	Irish	Fermoy
Tuath Thuama go buan		Irish	Tuam
Uimhir gan choisc	The irrepressible number	Irish	Muine Bheag
Unanet e vimp kreñv	United we are stronger	Breton	Quimper
Urram	Respect	Scottish	Glen High School
War zao atao	Always beginning	Breton	Lannion

Mottoes in Dutch or Afrikaans

Mottoes with Dutch or Afrikaans as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Door de eeuwen trouw	Loyal through the centuries	Amboina
Dispereert niet (also Ende dispereert niet)		Batavia
Eendragt maakt magt	Unity makes power	Transvaal Province, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
Geloof en moed	Faith and courage	Omaruru
Glo en dien	Believe and service	Hoërskool_Zwartkop
Glo en werk	Believe and labour	Montana High School
Handhaaf en bou	Maintain and build	Despatch
Heldhaftig - vastberaden - barmhartig	Heroic - Determined - Merciful	Amsterdam
Ik zal voor gaan	I shall go first	Zr.Ms. Dolfijn, Netherlands Navy
In trouwen vast		Mechelen
Jahweh is mijn god	Jahweh is my god	Basiliek van de H. Petrus te Boxmeer
Laat daar lig wees	Let there be light	Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Klein maar dapper		Zr.Ms. Brunvis, Netherlands Navy
Niet zonder arbyt	Not without labour	Chesterton, South Cambridgeshire
Op prooi belust	Eager for prey	Zr.Ms. Zeeleuw, Netherlands Navy
Sterker door strijd	Stronger through battle	Rotterdam, Zr.Ms. Rotterdam, Netherlands Navy
Tand om tand	Tooth for tooth	Zr.Ms. Walrus, Netherlands Navy
Trou aan ons eie	Loyal to ourselves	Laerskool Bakenkop
Trouw en liefde	Loyalty and love	Gent
Vervul jou roeping	Answer your calling	Laerskool Proteapark
Volhard en oorwin		Otavi
Vooruitgang deur volharding	Progress through perseverance	Karasburg
Vrede en recht	Peace and Justice	's Gravenhage/The Hague

Mottoes in French

Mottoes with French as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Absit invidia	Let there be no ill-will	Limavady
Amour de la patrie	Love of the motherland	Perwez
Au plus pres		2nd Infantry Regiment, French Army
Avant garde	Vanguard	Havant
Beau sejour	Have a beautiful stay	Budleigh Salterton
Comme il se droit	As it should be	Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Canada
De bon cuor		Walton-le-Dale
Defendez le saguenay	Defende the saguenay	Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, Canada
Je maintendrai		Netherlands, Hofstra University
Le jour viendra	The day will come	Lambton
L’entraide dans la charité	Mutual assistance in charity	Saint-Martin (Quebec)
L’union fait la force		Sint-Joost-ten-Node
Je me souviens	I remember	Quebec, Royal 22e Regiment, Canadian Army
Non sanz droict	Not without right (Norman French)	Warwickshire
Nous sommes prêts	Ready to act	Fareham
On ne releve pas picardie		1st Infantry Regiment, French Army
Prest a faire	Ready to act	Fareham
Prest pour nostre pays	Ready for our country	Welton
Qui cherche trouvé	Whoever seeks shall find	La Trobe University
Sans dieu rien	Without God nothing	Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Wanganui
Sauver oui périr		Fire Brigade of Paris, French Army
Sur terre et sur mer, Berthier toujours plus fier	By sea and by land, Berthier always prouder	Berthier-sur-Mer
Toujours prêt		Clanwilliam
Travail – liberté - patrie	Work – librty - fatherland	Togo
Un people – un but – une foi	One people – one goal – one faith	Senegal
Ung par tout – tout par ung		Southampton (Bermuda)
Union – travail - justice	Union – labour - justice	Gabon
Unité – dignité - travail	Unity – dignity - labour	Central African Republic
Unité – travail - progress	Unity – labour - progress	Burundi, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville)
Vert et vieux	Green and old	Verviers

Mottoes in Frisian

Mottoes with Frisian as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
In doarp riist ut 'e puollen		De Tynje

Mottoes in German

Mottoes with German as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Glück auf		Tsumeb

Mottoes in Greek

Mottoes with ancient or modern Greek as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΚΛΥΖΕΙ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΤΑΝΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΚΑΚΑ		Tenby

Mottoes in Indonesian

Mottoes with Bahasa Indonesia or any other native language in Indonesia as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Bhinneka tunggal Ika	Unity in diversity	Indonesia
Gemah ripah loh jinawi		Cirebon
Gemah ripah repeh rapih	Richness for all and living in harmony	Jawa Barat
Gemah ripah wibawa mukti		Bandung
Jer basuki mawa bea	Achievements are only won through sacrifice	Jawa Timur
Karya swadaya	On own power	Papua
Sekali layar terkembang pantang biduksurut ke pantai.	Makassar Papua]]
Soerâ-ing-bâjâ	Virtue in battle	Surabaya

Mottoes in Malagasy

Mottoes with Malagasy as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Asa filamnaha fahasambarana		Morondava
Asa fa tsy kabary		Mananjary
Azanahary tsy mitany ny vaka		Antsiranana
Betsimisaraka tsy misara – draha magnano		Fenoarivo Atsinanana
Fanjaiysy noreky taretsy		Antsohihy
Fiaraha miasa no hery		Maintirano
Fiherenana no naha toly ary		Tulear
Ho velona fa tsy ho levona		Mahajanga
Izay mitambatra vato		Ambatondrazaka
Lakana tsara voha manafak’ onja		Toamasina
Nosy magnitry		Nosy Be
Ny asa no harena		Antalaha
Ny toky fitaka fa ny ata ro hita		Ambalavao
Rano masina rano manoro		Antsirabe
Soa fianatsa ro mahovokatsa		Fianarantsoa

Mottoes in Old Norse

Mottoes with Old Norse as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Með lögum skal land byggja	By law shall the land be built up	Zetland, Shetland Islands

Mottoes in Polynesian languages

Mottoes with any Polynesian language as the original language.

Motto	Langauge	Translation in English	Used by
Long God yumi stanap	Bislama	In God we stand	Vanuatu
Rerevaka na kalou ka doka na Tui	Fijian	Fear God and honour the King	Fiji
Tatou tatou	Maori		Rotorua
Te mauri, te raoi ao te tabomoa'	Gilbertese		Kiribati
Te pai me te whairawa	Maori		Waitakere
Tokelau mo te Atua	Tokelauan	Tokelau for God	Tokelau
Tuituia mai tatou	Maori	Let us all be united	Birkenhead (New Zealand)
Tuvalu mo te Atua	Tuvalan	Tuvalu for God	Tokelau

Mottoes in Portuguese

Mottoes with Portuguese as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Constante e fiel	Constant and loyal	Military Region of Angola, Portuguese Army
Coragem e lealdade	Courage and loyalty	Independent Territorial Command of Guine, Portuguese Army
Dilatando a fee, o imperio (old motto)		Military Region Center, Portuguese Army
Em perigos e guerras esforçados		Portuguese Army
Ev seja o deanteiro		Military Region of Tomar, Portuguese Army
Honra e bravura	Honour and bravery	Military Region North, Portuguese Army
Honra valor e fama		Army Geospatial Information Center, Portuguese Army
Mui nobre e sempre leal cidade de Lisboa	Much noble and always loyal city of Lisbon	Lisboa
O sol logo em nascendo vê primeiro		Dili
Pela fé e pela pátria	For the faith and the fatherland	Independent Territorial Command of Cabo Verde, Portuguese Army
Pela honra e pela pátria	For honour and the fatherland	Independent Territorial Command of Madeira, Portuguese Army
Portugal e São Jorge	Portugal and Saint George	Portuguese Army
Sempre e prontos	Always and fast	Independent Territorial Command of Azores, Portuguese Army
Terra prodígio		Iacri
Um por todos todos por um	One for all and all for one	Military College, Portuguese Army
Unidade, disciplina, trabalho	Unity, discipline, labour	São Tomé e Príncipe
Vigiláncia e fidelidade	Vigilance and fidelity	Military Region South, Portuguese Army

Mottoes in Spanish

Mottoes with Spanish as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
Ciencia al servicio del hombre	Science in the service of man	Meteorological Service, Air Force of Venezuela
Con este palo me basto		Ceuta General Command, Spanish Army
Cuna del descubrimiento		Palos de la Frontera
Dios, unión, libertad	God, union, liberty	El Salvador
Especiales en la guerra y en la paz	Specialists in war and in peace	Special Operations Air Group No15, Air Force of Venezuela
Lucha y vence entre dos ríos		Palma del Río
Más vale honra sin barcos ...		Frigate Méndez Nuñez, Spanish Navy
Paso honroso		Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Spanish Air Force
Rey servido y patria honorada	Serve the king and honour the fatherland	Frigate Álvaro de Bazán, Spanish Navy
Segura tiene la palma		Naval Command of Las Palmas, Spanish Navy
Sobre todo ¡España!		Frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón, Spanish Navy
Unidad, paz, justicia	Unity, peace, justice	Equatorial Guinea

Mottoes in Welsh

Mottoes with Welsh as the original language.

Motto	Translation in English	Used by
A ddioddefws a orfu	He who suffered, conquered	Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan
A fynno Duw a fydd		Cowbridge RDC
A vo penn bit pont	He who will be chief, let him be a bridge	Bridgend
Amser yw'n golud		Ystradgynlais
Awn rhagom		Cowbridge
Cadarn pob cyfiawn	The just are strong	West Glamorgan
Cadernid cyfiawndr cynndd	Stability, justice, progress	Barry
Canmol dy fro a thrig yno	Commend thy locality and dwell therein	Brecon
Cyfoeth cymdeithas: cymuned	A society's wealth is its community	Llanelli
Cynyddaf a llawenychaf	I grow and I rejoice	Prestatyn
Dawn gorau dyngarwch	A nation's wealth is freedom	Ceredigion
Diogel dan ddinefwr	Safe under Dinefwr	Dinefwr
Duw a digon	With God, enough	Denbighshire
Duwioldeb diwydrwydd	Godliness and industry	Port Talbot Borough, Port Talbot
Ewch yn uwch	Higher and higher	Radnorshire, Radnorshire District Council
Gorau gweithio-cyd weithio	The best service is co-operation	Maesteg
Golud gwlad rhydidd	A nation's wealth is freedom	Ceredigion
Gorau moes gwasanaeth	The best way of life is service	Aberystwyth Borough
Gorau nawwd, nawwd duw		Hawarden
Gorau tarian cyfiawnder	The best shield is justice	Flintshire, Islwyn
Gwasanaeth a gwerin		Alyn and Deeside
Gwella braint heb golli bro		Vaynor and Penderyn
Gwerth cyngor gwasanaeth	The virtue of a council is its service	Glyndŵr
Gwirionedd undod a chytgord		University of Cardiff
Hanfod tref trefn	The essential of a good town is orderliness	Ammanford
Hwy clod na golud	Fame outlasts wealth	Rhondda
Iechyd ac addysg	Health and learning	Ebbw Vale
Iechyd harddwch heddwch	Health, beauty, tranquillity	Colwyn, Colwyn Bay
Llafur orfu bobpeth	Hard work conquers everything	Taff-Ely
Llifa'r dwr, llewyrcha'r bobl		Brecknock RDC
Llywyddiant o ddiwydiant		Connah's Quay
Llywyddiant trwy undeb	Success through union	Cynon Valley
Llywyddo drwy ymdrech	Succeeding through endeavour	Neath and Port Talbot
Mon mam Cynru	Anglesey, Mother of Wales	Isle of Anglesey
Nid cadern ond brodyrdde	No strength but in fellowship	Merthyr Tydfil
Nid da lle gellir gwell		Lliw Valley
Powys paradwys cymru	Powys, the paradise of Wales	Powys
Rhydd gwerni ffyniant gwlad	A free people a prosperous country	Carmarthenshire, Dyfed
Rhyddid hedd a llwyddint	Freedom, peace and prosperity	Carmarthen
Tarian cyfiawnder duw	The shield of justice is God	Clwyd
Tra mor tra meirion		Merionethshire
Undeb a rhyddid	Unity and freedom	Blaenau Gwent
Undeb hedd llwyddiant	Unity, peace, success	Brecknock, Brecknockshire
Undod cadernid cynndd	Unity Strength Progress	Vale of Glamorgan
Unwn i wneud da		Denbighshire
Y ddinas a’r fro	The city and the vale	South Glamorgan
Ymlaen â Delyn	Forward with Delyn	Delyn
Yr hafan dêg ar fin y dôn	The fair haven at the edge of the waves	Rhyl

Mottoes in other languages

Mottoes in any other language.

Motto	Translation in English	Language	Used by
Eetsun nunnumur	The land where it is good to be	Saanich	North Saanich
Endazhe kinamandowa chimaganishak	The soldiers training ground		Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Canada
Inuit nunangata ungata	Beyond the eskimo land		Canadian Forces Station Alert, Canada
Moondah	Over the horizon	Australian Aboriginal	Australian Administrative Staff College
Ojibwe gchi gami odena	Settlement near the Ojibwe’s big lake	Ojibwe	Sault Ste. Marie
ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᓴᙱᓂᕗᑦ	Nunavut our strength	Inuktitut	Nunavut
Tingijub akkarvinga	The place where the areoplanes come in to land	Labrador eskimo	Canadian Forces Station Goose Bay, Canada

Mottoes in two or more languages

Mottoes in multiple languages.

Motto	Translation in English	Languages	Used by
Diens - Ukukhoza - Service	Service	Afrikaans - Xhosa - English	Langeberg
Eendracht maakt macht - L’union fait la force		Dutch and French	Belgium
Kayas - présent - future	Past - present - future	Cree, French and English	North Battleford
Paix – travail – patrie : Peace – work - fatherland	Peace – work - fatherland	French and English	Cameroon

Mottoes in non-existing languages

Mottoes with a non-existing or phantasy language.

Motto	Translation in English	Origin/Language	Used by
Es-whoy-malth	A shoaling place	transcribed from a local native American language	Esquimalt